Series: Riders Duology (bk. 1)
Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Thriller
Subjects: supernatural, demons, angels, magic, horses,
apocalypse
Setting: California, Rome, Italy, Norway
POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense:
Gideon Blake
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 362 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: Macmillan: TorTeen
Summary/ product description: “Nothing but death can keep
eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army
Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
While
recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds
himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death
has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary
four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the
coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought
together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity
from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They
fail.
Now—bound,
bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role
in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance
of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of
humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is
in imminent danger.
But will
anyone believe him?”
My Review: Riders
is a pretty good series opener. The beginning of the book starts weeks after
the fact, and Gideon is telling his story to a woman named Natalie Cordero,
who’s possibly a psychologist or interrogator with a government agency. There
are some interruptions when she asks him questions. She seems skeptical of his
story, but also seems to put on an act of believing him.
Gideon was training for the army to be in the 75th
Ranger Regimen. He has an accident on his 6th time parachuting and
almost dies. He wakes up with a strange red metallic bracelet on his wrist.
He’s healing from his injuries mysteriously fast. He goes to a party at his
sister’s college and meets a girl that tells him he has to come with her. This
girl is Daryn, and claims that she is a Seeker in search of the current
incarnations of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and tells Gideon that he’s
War.
Gideon’s in disbelief even after being attacked by the
Kindred at the party. They travel across California to find Famine and Death,
and eventually Conquest, who’s in Europe. Along the way, they try their best to
evade the Kindred, but still some attacks occur. Also the horsemen don’t all
get along. Gideon’s got quite the temper sometimes. My favorite character is
probably Sebastian (Bas). He’s such a nice guy, doesn’t want to fight. He had
dreams of being a famous actor, and Gideon actually met him during Bas’s
audition. There’s some romance between Daryn and Gideon. Daryn seems like a
cool girl and reminds me of other female characters I’ve read.
I love the horses. I didn’t expect that there would be
horses. I thought “horsemen” would just be a title with no actual horses
involved. But there are horses! Gideon’s horse is a fiery red stallion. This
horse has real flames for its mane and tail, like Ponyta & Rapidash from
Pokémon. Also it makes me think of Ghost Rider. Bas’s mare is dark and shadowy,
but beautiful. There’s Death’s pale horse, an ashy mare. And Conquest’s glowing
white horse. I like the names they each come up with for their horses too.
This was pretty exciting. Can’t wait to see how it
ends in the sequel-finale. I recommend this to people who enjoy shows like
Supernatural or Messengers (which was cancelled after 1 season) or Constantine.
Also fans of paranormal book in general. If you like horses, too.
Cover Art Review: Cool fiery horse!!! Really awesome
cover.
